LGBT films

[jeffg]

A young friend of ours is starting his video collection, and he asked us to name some films we considered to be "essential for this genre". He said (correctly IMO) that every gay/lesbian-themed film, as long as it has some eye candy, is rated at 1000% by our community, regardless of whether it has any artistic merit.

So I'm throwing the question out to y'all. If you had to pick a short list of "essential" LGBT films, what would it be?

 

[paulc]

"Torch Song Trilogy", "The Fruit Machine" and "Beautiful Thing" are a must!

 

[foraloysius]

- My beautiful laundrette

- Milk (both versions)

- Far from Heaven

- And the band played on

_ Brokeback Mountain

- Lawrence

- Philadelphia

- Fresa y chocolate

- Priscilla Queen of the Desert

 

[panthera]

What Louis and Paul said

Plus:
Latter Days (the book sucks, sadly)
Gone, But not Forgotten
Der Mann meines Herzens (the French Film, The Man I Love)
Echte Kerle
Eine Liebe wie jede andere Auch

Transamerica and Boys don't Cry are brilliant

But I'm a Cheerleader is the only lesbian film I can think of which didn't make me cringe.

Pity, there are tons of really good lesbian books.

On TV, anything with Gareth David-Lloyd is going to be gay and good - for a "straight man", he sure does the generically Gay rôle rather well when ever the BBC needs tall, dark, broody and Celtic. Including best gay kiss of 2008.

 

[ptcruiser51]

Boys In The Band

Before I saw this I had no idea men danced together! Sad that (last I heard) only two actors from this film are still alive.

 

[maytagbear]

Some of my nominations:

"Chris and Don- A Love Story." (Historic, yet cheerful, best of all, TRUE!) Chris(topher) Isherwood wrote the basis for my favourite (at the moment) musical, "Cabaret." "Cabaret" may seem timid now, but had a groundbreaking bisexual plot in '72.

"Regular Guys" (Exceptionally funny German movie with a delightful plot twist.)

"Dona Herlinda and Her Son" (Well done Mexican movie.)

I also second Paul's recommendation of "Beautiful Thing."

"Brokeback Mountain" was wonderful, but I don't think I could see it again.

IF available, I cannot say enough about "Parting Glances."

Another good one in limited availability is "Mango Souffle."

I like "Love! Valour! Compassion!" but not enough to be on my top 10.

I am sorry if this is anyone's favourite, but I utterly detested, hated, loathed, and abominated "Broken Hearts Club." If I had been watching it by myself, I would have turned it right the hell off.

I loved "Bear Cub," but it was not always an easy watch.

The book version of "The Celluloid Closet" was more complete, of course, but the film version is worth watching. I consider it a reasonable tribute to Vito Russo.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[maytagbear]

Uh.........

in my opinion, a newbie does not need to see "Boys In The Band." It is historic, but it is dreadfully stuffed with pre-Stonewall self-hatred.

Maybe a few years down the pike, but not as a newbie.

Just my.2

L/Mb

 

[MikeS]

Let Me Add These Titles....

The Boys In The Band (not the most positive gay film ever made, but the first where the gay characters did NOT commit suicide).
Trick (a wonderful gay date film with a great ensemble cast, including a surprisingly good Tori Spelling).
Victim (great 1961 British film starring Dirk Bogarde as a married man/lawyer). First film to use the word "homosexual". Banned in the US for a time.
The Broken Hearts Club (pleasant but predictable gay buddy comedy with a great ensemble cast--some who were either already known for TV roles or relatively unknown when the film came out).
Bear Cub (2004 Spanish film about a gay bear dentist who cares for his sister's son). Touching and funny look at parenting and the bear culture.
The Celluloid Closet (what better for an LGBT bookshelf than the definitive documentary about how the community was depicted on film?)
And my quirky favorite:
Chuck & Buck: (a comedy thriller with gay subtext, written by and starring Mike White--who has, of course, penned other films such as "School Of Rock," "Nacho Libre" and appeared with his dad Mel on Season 14 of "The Amazing Race").

 

[nmassman44]

Dont forget Sordid Lives and I loved Beautiful Thing as well. The Trip is very good too...there was another movie I just saw on Here! that i liked and that was Chicken Tiki Marsala and another movie I saw the other night was about some guy that thought he was straight until he got his kitty punched...I cant remember the name....I am sure it will come to me.

 

[jeffg]

I'd have to disagree with that, Lawrence. There's still plenty of pre-Stonewall self-hatred in our community, and the film was a milestone in many ways. As far as I know it was the first to show a group of gay friends simply being who they were. Also, the portrayal of the effect that marijuana has on a party has never been equalled by any other movie IMO.

 

[maytagbear]

Jeff--

I understand. I did say that I thought "Boys In The Band" would be better for someone experienced in gay culture. That's all.

As in "later," as opposed to "never."

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jeffg]

Wow, glad to see another Trick fan. What a great film! The "desk scene" had me laughing so hard, and cringing at the same time.

 

[jeffg]

Oh wait, it might have been a piano, not a desk. If you've seen it you know the scene I'm referring to.

 

[jeffg]

Excellent recs so far, thanks everyone.

My partner suggested a few more:

Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss

Defying Gravity

Doing Time on Maple Drive

Like It Is

 

[rp2813]

Lots of good ones suggested here already and nothing else comes to mind right now other than a crazy one my partner and I really enjoyed, "Gaudi Afternoon" I believe is the title. Takes place in Madrid, which drives the title. Not exactly a gay theme in the documentary sense but still a fun and twisty TV (not television) tale. And I'm not a big fan of TV's. The Frankie character alone makes it worth watching.

Ralph

 

[jeffg]

Can someone help jog my memory? I recall the scene but can't remember what movie it's from:

Gay man goes to a gay disco with a very reluctant group of straight firemen, and outside of ten minutes the firemen are having an absolute blast...

 

[jeffg]

Ok I found it. The film is called "Just One Time".

Probably not on anyone's must-have list, but that one scene was pretty damned funny.

 

[alanlendaro]

check out TLA video's web site (or their catalog) for GL

We use the catalog as a guide for choosing netflix titles. Have enjoyed most of them - especially the latino movies (with subtitles). Also, "Sordid Lives" IS A MUST - where else can you get a drag queen, Tammy Wynette, Oliva Newton Johh, Delta Burke and Bonnie Bedlia all in the same movie? Big Eden is fun too. "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" was the first non-porno gay movie I ever saw - went with a good friend's wife down in Chelsea in NYC. Mango Souflee was OK - not one I want to see again. "Doing Time on Maple Drive" is good in a "Lifetime TV" kind of way - the gay element was just but one component of how Fcked up that "Perfect" family was (Not that being gay is Fcked up!).

 

[jeffg]

I think my other half likes Billy's Screen Kiss and Doing Time for the same reason: they're two rare cases of ambiguous (and far more realistic) film endings. Especially in Doing Time: while the father wants to start rebuilding a functional family, the kid's mother winds up repulsed by and bitter about her son.

But in any case the acting and writing were first-rate IMO.